Step SixGerms reside on both the mouse and the keyboard; cleaning them is good for you as well as for the computer. Once more, remove the ball from the mouse. Put it where it will not roll, and where you will easily find it again.

Run an alcohol-soaked (rubbing alcohol, not single-malt Laphraoig) around the outside of the mouse. Pay particular attention to the bottom of the mouse. Get all the sticky stuff off the bottom; you will be surprised how much easier it glides when clean. And the key you use the most, probably the left one. Dry with a soft cloth. Do not attempt to clean the mouse ball with alcohol. If it is dirty and has bits of unidentfiable material attached, try rubbing with a soft cloth. (If still grotty, buy a new mouse. ) Replace the mouse ball.

Using the antibacterial wipes (or q-tips and rubbing alcohol) clean the edges of the keyboard and the tops of the keys. If you have a sticky key or two, gently pry off the key with the screwdriver, turn the keyboard upside down over the disposal bag, thump. If stickiness is stubborn, use an alcohol-moistened q-tip, or one of your snazzy special purpose foam swabs.

Caution ! before you remove any keys, write down exactly where they came from. Otherwise, your next email message mojht ;ook ;oke thos.

Using only a damp lint-free cloth (or that special Monitor Cleaner you bought), wipe the screen clean. Do not let water DRIP. When the screen is clean, use that same damp cloth to wipe off the outside of the monitor, especially where there are "air holes." Do not wipe the back of the monitor with a damp cloth or anything else wet. If you insist upon doing so, first go to the kitchen and stick a fork into your toaster. At least you will save the computer.

Now is the time for those specialized CD and floppy kits if you purchased them. And now that you have seen what lives within the computer case, you will surely remember to buy them next time. If you have earphones or microphones, you might want to disinfect them with one of those anti-bacterial wipes. And if the surface can take it, spray your desk with Lysol or use those handy-dandy wipes again. Put the computer back into its accustomed spot.

Step Seven

Reattach the keyboard and mouse. Reattach the plug into the computer. Plug in the surge protector. Turn on the surge protector. Release the relations and household pets. Praise them for their help. Enjoy your new cool-running computer.

---------------------------This article may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, email, messaging system, or mailing lists, without the written permission of the author.

Thank you Ms. Brown for an informative, humorous article written just in time for that much anticipated annual rite of spring cleaning! And you're right - I do need to perform a (long overdue) back up of my files.

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

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Death Finds a Way: A Janie Riley Mystery by Lorine McGinnis SchulzeJanie Riley is an avid genealogist with a habit of stumbling on to dead bodies. She and her husband head to Salt Lake City Utah to research Janie's elusive 4th great-grandmother. But her search into the past leads her to a dark secret. Can she solve the mysteries of the past and the present before disaster strikes?

I'm an incurable collector of
antiques, an avid genealogist and a messy but creative cook! I blog, i write history and genealogy books. My main genealogy website is Olive Tree Genealogy http://olivetreegenealogy.com/

Lorine is the author of many published genealogical and historical
articles and books available at
http://LorineSchulze.com